My schedule for today was for a half day of getting the volunteer paperwork done, and an orientation to my duties while I’m here. Ha! That half day ended up taking eight and a half hours. Didn’t surprise me. Just about two weeks ago, a new National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center opened in Manteo that highlights nine refuges in the North Carolina/Virginia Coastal area. What a spectacular center it is! I’ll be doing a separate post on it in the near future.
I went through most all of the exhibits today so I’ll know what I’m talking about when I’ll be the only person running it this coming Sunday. That could be very interesting.
Most of the photos tonight are from the incoming storm that hit last evening. Almost every night since I’ve been here, heavy rains have pelted us beginning around 7:00. Yesterday’s storm had huge billowing clouds preceding it.
Abbey, the volunteer coordinator, and I made a trip out to the Pea Island NWR visitors center after I had viewed all of the exhibits in what is called the ‘Gateway Visitors Center’. I’ll be running the Pea Island visitors center on Saturday. We got there around noon, and there had already been 142 visitors. That’s such a far cry from the visitation that is experienced at Anahuac NWR or Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR, that I have to get pumped up again for non-stop action on Saturday. There is a book that lists everything you have to do to open up and close down, so it should go pretty smoothly for me on Saturday.
Okay, that little minor crisis is over. Temps are supposed to be more pleasant tomorrow after this front moves through. I sure hope so.
Because of the ocean, the marshes, and the wet areas on this refuge, dragonflies are everywhere. This blue-eyed example landed on my extended stay hose. Dragonflies don’t bite, and are reported to eat many mosquitoes, so I like them! I just wish they ate chiggers!
One of the new things that is at the Pea Island Visitors Center since my last time here is a hands on display for kids that includes sand, shells, and other things found along the beaches of the Outer Banks. Abbey said it gets a lot of use, and it looked like it needed some more items to beef up the display. You can be sure that I jumped on this opportunity to volunteer to walk the beaches to find more items for the display. I’ll probably be doing that next week. Sweet!
I wanted to be sure to show you my navigator for a portion of today as I drove around for various tasks. I think he’s telling me to step on the brakes, and make a left turn.
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
Even though the clouds brought terrible rains, they are beautiful to look at.
ReplyDeleteIf he doesn't like the way you drive, why doesn't he try it?
Sounds like you are going to roll right into duty all preped and ready to go. Beautiful clouds and what a gorgeous dragonfly. You must be a quick click to get such a great picture.
ReplyDeleteNot sure about your navigator. Where did you pick him up and why? Surely there can't be a carpooling lane where you are.
I really think a GPS would be a better choice for navigation.
ReplyDeleteYour navigator was telling you to "bear" left... ;c)
ReplyDeleteYou can't be too careful with the slide awnings in a storm. Ah, the joys of RV living.
The clouds were pretty before the storm. Beautiful dragonfly. I don't think Emma will ride with your new navigator.
ReplyDeleteToday when we were picking up the Alfa i was listening to a service guy on the phone telling someone it would cost over $1000 to replace is awning! Best to pull them in!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos of the clouds. Your navigator doesn't appear to care much for your driving!
ReplyDeleteI dare ya to go through a fast food or bank drive-thru with your navigator . . . ;) Personally, I love it!
ReplyDeleteI love cloud pictures. Even if they are storm clouds. Those are just gorgeous. Your navigator - not so much.
ReplyDeleteIs that Jack out of his box?
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you'll be testing the water depth with both feet on this assignment. Take a deep breath then dive in!
ReplyDeleteis that our 'Bart's' cousin?..bad navigator!!
ReplyDeleteDon't tell me you traded Jack-in-the-Box for Bear-in-the-passenger-seat! :) Great cloud pictures, Judy.
ReplyDeleteYour clouds pictures are absolutely gorgeous, I like taking cloud pictures too, they are always changing and so beautiful. By the way, Happy Birthday, hope it was a good one.
ReplyDelete♥ your sky pictures. Sometimes I forget what I'm looking at because the sky distracts me. I love the dragonfly pic, too. And the bear is pretty funny. I'd really love to drive around with him in my passenger seat, trying to keep a straight face (me).
ReplyDeleteA beautiful'Carolina'sky. Sounds like your storm was 'fakin' you out same as the one here did. But agree, much better safe than sorry. We are about 5 hours apart, you are almost as far north in NC as ya can go... and I am nearly as far south in NC as can go :)
ReplyDeleteThat dragonfly is fabulous! I can see his likeness made into a silver and turquoise piece of jewelry... Now... about that bear... Didn't anyone ever tell you that you need to be careful when picking up hitchhikers?
ReplyDeleteSay, that bare bear looks a little bare without his pants on. Bear with me as I attempt to get a bearing on the day...
ReplyDeleteGreat capture of the dragonfly -- it's so nice when they cooperate for a photo-op :-)) I bet your navigator made a couple of heads turn in amazement.
ReplyDeleteLove the dragonfly picture. Glad you survived the storm okay. I'm like Emma when there are storms. Scary stuff.
ReplyDeleteLove your navigator. I am with you I pull in the slides and put down the sat dish. It just makes me feel better.
ReplyDeleteThat navigator of yours sure needs a shave! I loved the dragonflies at our ponds.
ReplyDeleteI am a real sucker for cloud photos, and those are some great ones!
ReplyDeleteAw, Judy - I would LOVE to come help you comb the beaches looking for items to put in the Visitor's Center! What time shall I be there? :)
ReplyDelete